Levemir is used for treating type 1 diabetes in adults and children, as well as type 2 diabetes in adults. However, a healthcare provider may also prescribe Levemir "off-label" to treat type 2 diabetes in children. Another off-label Levemir use includes treating gestational diabetes. Levemir is a long-acting diabetes medication that works by providing a steady level of insulin throughout the day.
Uses of Levemir: An Overview
Levemir® (
insulin detemir) is a long-acting insulin medication used to help control blood sugar in people with type 1 and
type 2 diabetes. This medication is injected once or twice a day.
Levemir Uses for Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes usually begins in young children and teenagers, although this is not always the case. People with this type of
diabetes have a
pancreas that produces little or no insulin. This means that such people need to have insulin on a regular basis to help keep their blood sugar at the right level.
In healthy people without diabetes, insulin levels do not stay the same throughout the day; instead, they fluctuate in response to changes in blood sugar levels. In order to mimic the natural insulin changes that help keep blood sugar safely controlled, many healthcare providers recommend "basal-bolus" insulin regimens. These regimens often involve a long-acting insulin (such as Levemir) to provide a basal insulin level (a relatively steady background level of insulin throughout the day). A short- or rapid-acting insulin is added to provide the bolus (a quick, fast-acting, short-lived dose of insulin) to handle the sudden rise in blood sugar levels that follows each meal.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print